521: Mormon Stories: A Tribute from Past Podcast Participants

As John Dehlin faces a disciplinary council for his work on Mormon Stories, more than two dozen past participants offer their thoughts on what John and the podcast have meant to them and to Mormonism. These reflections include faithful, orthodox Latter-Day Saints and ex-Mormons; famous scholars and private individuals; and social activists and theologians. They reflect the inclusiveness of the Mormon Stories project, past, present, and future — and the many ways lives have been changed and improved by involvement with John’s work. We invite listeners to share their own reflections about the importance of Mormon Stories in the comments section to this post.

Thanks to John and his guests, I have been able to puts words to many questions to I have had. This knowledge has helped reaffirm my reasons for leaving the church. I still am very interested in what’s going on in the church due to the fact that most of my family and friends are mormon. John asks great questions and is very professional in how he asks even the tough questions regarding church history and the problems within the church today. Thanks John! I’ve shared your podcasts with many friends and family!!

John,
Since ALL Mormons, even the most orthodox amongst us, truly are “cafeteria Mormons” (no one does or believes everything with exactness) your work at Mormon Stories is like that long table in the dining hall that welcomes ALL friends and believer/non-believer-types regardless of what’s on the plate. Some plates are full, some empty, and some skip the entire food line altogether and head right for that table. Mormon Stories is an important work because it builds bridges across the belief spectrum, brings down rigid dividers amongst believers and non-believers, and reminds us that how we treat others has an incredible impact on all of our lives – for better or worse. Thank you for giving me and thousands of others a warm and welcoming seat at the table!

And Jay, you forgot non-Mormons in your excellent description of what Mormon Stories is about. I’m a Byzantine-rite Catholic and an occasional viewer of Mormon Stories, I can ‘testify’ that Mormon Stories has done more to help me understand Mormonism than about anything else I’ve come across during my time of living in east Idaho.

I am both saddened and sickened that John Dehlin is facing a disciplinary council for the wonderful work he does with Mormon Stories. I know the ‘official’ reasons that John Dehlin is facing the disciplinary council is because he supports same-sex marriage and the Ordain Women movement. Yet, I have known several Mormons who were excommunicated for reason of apostasy, simply because they were asking too many questions about too many matters pertaining to Mormon theology, and this is unconscionable to me.

Jay, you sum up my feelings perfectly! John reaches out to us all, even in far-flung places like here in the Spanish mountains. Not been active for 25 years, but spent many years harbouring enormous anger for what the Church had done to my own family and friends. John and Mormon Stories has helped me put aside so much of my bottled-up resentment, and I´ve now become a better person, through seeking out truths and wisdom for myself, and trying to live a “righteous” life beyond the narrow straight-jacketed ancient pharisees, “the brethren”, who seem to have departed from the simple gospel of Jesus´s love and compassion?
Many thanks, and long may you continue inspiring us with your wide ranging, uplifting podcast programmes!

The reason I’m an ex- is that I thought I had to believe it all and try to do it all. I was perpetually discouraged from the time I was 10; I just couldn’t see how I could ever follow so many rules. True I must have been naive, but it saved me in an odd way.

Then I discovered in reading St. Paul that we aren’t called to have faith in an organization at all. Our salvation comes to us through the grace of Jesus Christ and our belief in him. If you read the Gospels, you find out Jesus didn’t like hierarchies and organizations. He didn’t like rules particularly, either. When asked, he told his followers the two greatest commandments were to love the Lord our God with the whole of our being and to love our neighbors as ourselves. Not easy, true, but I have faith that our Lord and Savior is walking with me each day and teaching me that love.

Your resources for members who want to stay despite doubts and support for couples has helped me and my family in numerous ways. Your words and resources helped me know I am not alone and helped me understand how my spouse is mourning the changes in my faith, just as I am, but in his own way. Your work matters and so clearly comes from a kind, generous heart. Thank you.

Listening to this podcast brought back a flood of memories. have been listening for about a year and have really needed these podcasts to help in my personal journey. I know that these people are are among the best and brightest among us. I so appreciate the help and sacrifice from so many for so many.I could feel the sincerity and spirit. Each had a unique story and a genuineness that showed they really want to help change the church and each of us for the better. John I don’t know how anyone could listen to this and not be effected in a positive way. I know it did for me.
Good luck on your disciplinary court and we not only will be praying for you but hope to be there to support you as well.

Being born a natural born doubting Thomas, mormon stories has soothed my soul after being raised in a very orthodox family. We need people like John in the mormon church if the church expects to keep people from leaving. Thanks John for a fantastic library of amazing stories that have time after time touched my heart to the very core. I loved hearing the familiar voices of all the people whom support you. Love to you and your family.

Undoubtedly, Mormon officials will hear this amazing podcast. All I can to them is; ‘Go ahead! your move!!’
John, you are more like Jesus than the Mormon leadership are. You stick to the truth, you choose the right whether it is orthodox or not. You would be the man who protects the woman taken in adultery. The Mormon leadership would go ahead and stone her!!!. You would heal the lepers, the Mormon leadership would declare them unclean. Mormonism is the church of the Pharisees and you have the Christlike strength to stand up to their manifest wickedness. Do not cease to do so and the rest of us will follow you regardless of the outcome of your impending disciplinary council. May God bless you in your worthy cause.
Kind Regards.

Forgive me, because I appreciate and share your welcoming sentiment, but as a (heterodox, LGBT-supporting) Catholic myself I’m afraid this is not really true. You are aware that part of why they’re subjecting him to discipline is his uncompromising support for female ordination and gay marriage, right? The Catholic Church may not excommunicate lay Catholics for unorthodox beliefs, but it does require new converts to make a Profession of Faith which includes assent to all Catholic doctrines and teachings. If Mr. Dehlin is not going to abandon his convictions to satisfy his own people and his own native faith, I doubt he would do it for some other homophobic, patriarchal religion. Many church communities would not ask him to change or suppress any of his deep convictions, but the Catholic Church would not welcome him unless he were willing to comply with some of the most untenable demands of his Mormon stake president. It tolerates, but certainly does not welcome or approve, the dissent of Catholics like me.

I truly wish my church was the kind of place that would welcome someone like John Dehlin, but it currently is not. I think it is more productive for us to learn from the LDS community than to presume that we are better and congratulate ourselves without serious introspection.

Christian Schmemann, nothing personal and I’m sure you’re a great person, but I find your Catholic compartmental blinders staggering. I’m a former Mormon and proud, yea passionate Atheist, but there is a sentiment driven deep inside the Book of Mormon that I particularly agree with. Today although this sentiment is mostly dismissed by liberal and politically correct Mormon members, when it was originally penned and hundreds of years after, its meaning was quite clear. The book of Mormon speaks of an abominable church that withheld the plain and precious parts of the Gospel of the Lamb. An abominable church that is the Mother of all Harlots, the Whore of the Earth. I was personally taught that this refers to the Catholic Church. Now wether that is directly referencing the Catholic church I know not, but one thing I do know; after the preachments and inducements agianst the Jews leading directly and indirectly to the persecution and grand crown of the holocaust. The conquests, inquisitions, indulgences with its attending murder and maiming, and the conquests of indigenouos peoples of many continents and its murderous plunder and conversion at the sword, and the robbing of culture and narrative. The preachments of its right leading to the henious conflicts in Rawanda, Bosnia, Belgrade, and even the killing of other Christian’s children in those nations. To the preachment that AIDS is bad, but not as bad as condoms, leading to the suffering, misery and death of milliions of people. To the preachment of denying women control over thier reproductive cycles, chaining them to an animal type breeding schedule and the poverty and squalor that produces. To the hysterical clutch of virgins that is the Catholic priesthood, betraying and sexually preying on the vulnerable only to be shielded by the higher clergy, moved around, or outright sheltered in the vatican. Yes Micheal, it is my humble opinion that the “Great and Abominable Church, the Whore of the Earth” fits the Catholic church like a fitted glove, and is appropriate in every sense of the statement. The wickedness, evil, and immorality the Catholic Church has perpetrated on mankind due to its age and bredth, makes the Mormon church seem downright innocent, and moral. I don’t give one tinkers damn about how many charities, soup kitchens, shelters the Catholic Church gleefully promotes, our species would have done much better in the world had the Catholic Church never existed. So I may be alone in this, but you don’t get to judge the Mormon Church. I get to, but you don’t, unless you are willing to pull the Mormon/other religion beam out of your eye.

Dear John, Yours is a ‘great work and a wonder!’ I am astounded at the breadth of your commitment and contribution to those of us who wish to base their decisions and lives upon pure facts. You are an extraordinary human being who will doubtless continue to embrace the truth in all its forms and bless those with whom you work. Your efforts have been vital to my recovery from the clutches of mormonism. Thank you with all my heart!

I have been a Mormon Stories listener for a couple of years now. I can stay silent no longer. John, I love your work. I respect your courage. My story is not that different from thousands you’ve heard. A TBM for most of my life, I was raised in an “inactive” family in Missouri. (The name Boggs shows up in my family history. I must further research that some day.) I came to Utah to establish my own eternal family. A few years ago my 25 year old son came out as gay. A year later he came out saying he was transgender instead. I always believed if I had a “wayward” child that I could love them and remain committed to the church. The reality however is that I felt I had to choose between my son and the church, a decision I believe no mother should have to make. I chose my son. About the same time all this was happening I was searching online for some answers my aging mother was asking. I discovered the “new church history” and it shook me to my very core. I also discovered Mormon Stories and listened eagerly to as many episodes as my time would allow. I should add that simultaneous to these experiences my husband of 30 plus years has suffered two strokes. He is currently on home hospice care and is ever so close to leaving this life. I have had the task of caring for him while working full time to try to maintain some financial stability. Through this indescribable pain and anguish, Mormon Stories has been a source of comfort and strength. Thank you ever so much Brother John Dehlin!!

Thank you so much, John, for being part of my faith transition. You have been a vital part of my staying in the church, and have been so helpful in trying to explain my thoughts to others. Sending love your way in this difficult time.

Thank you John for your wonderful work. No doubt you have been called for a special mission in these troubled times. I’m currently serving as a bishop and your work has helped me successfully rescue 4 people within the ward who would have gone inactive wasn’t it for all the wisdom I gained from your podcast. Thank you. You made a difference.

Thanks John for being there for our family. I attribute my lack of depression , while we are leaving mormonism, to having available to me podcasts that give voice to the complexity of the issues that I grapple with on a daily basis. It is unfortunate that when you need to be understood the most, that the mormon belief system cuts you off from your own mormon family and friends. Not that they don’t still love me, but they feel to threatened to really discuss the issues ;and I have to try and respect that boundary.

I’m a bit late to the Mormon Stories party, but in the month or two that I’ve been listening, I’ve quickly grown attached. Having one of those ‘non-traditional’ backgrounds – growing up outside the church, in a liberal household and a liberal part of the country – moving out west and joining the church was definitely a paradigm shift and left me feeling out of place at times. It’s been frustrating to hear ignorant comments about minority, marginalized groups and have that line of thinking be the norm. It’s also frustrating to hear claims of absolute truth, while simultaneously being cagey about past history and presenting a whitewashed version of things.

But I’m so grateful that there’s a voice out there speaking to these issues and fostering discussion. It’s comforting to know of many others who feel the way that I do and are attempting to reconcile these issues with the positive aspects of Mormonism while attempting to maintain varying degrees of involvement.

I’m hopeful that these podcasts will continue to shed light on the important issues and get people talking and thinking – not for the purpose of damaging testimonies or convincing people that the church is false, but for promoting the well-being and fair treatment of all those who genuinely seek the gospel and/or a relationship with God, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, political affiliation, or any other divisive factor and also improving the sense of belonging/inclusivity in both families and church communities.

Thank you, Brother John Dehlin. I have learned and gained much through your efforts and the people you’ve introduced. You have blessed my life. You are a true pioneer in the best sense of the word…just as those who sacrificed and left comforts behind and journeyed and toiled and labored in order to remain true to their faith. With joy wend your way…!!!

Honest followers of Christ will continue to support you in this worthwhile cause.

“For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three, but the greatest of these is charity.”

I can testify to John dehlins work with Mormon stories helping me and my wife stay in the church. Back in February 2012, my wife and I had a pretty terrible meeting with our bishop. I actually got angry and pound my fist on his desk. I was so upset and never wanted to step foot back inside a church. After that meeting, we were driving to my mother’s for dinner and I couldn’t stop talking about how insulting the bishop was and how I felt he was so in the wrong regarding our situation. I won’t go into details about it but suffice it to say, it was heart breaking. But while driving I had an odd sense of peace come over me. I’m angry upset and yet felt it odd that I would be feeling some quiet inner voice telling to be at peace and everything would be alright. The next day, I discovered Mormon stories and so did my wife, simply by chance. It must’ve been god sent I don’t know. I am so glad it was here. It helped me to stay calm, forgive myself and my bishop, nobody is perfect and start to see how I can make this all work out and stay in church. I’m glad I did because the flood gates open. Because of John dehlin, Mormon stories and Mormon matters, I have learned so much more than I could ever begin to explain about the nuances of faith and the religion. I am much more relaxed and open now to differences of opinion and feel a sense of relief. Thank you John. Thanks for all you do. God bless you my friend.

Yes, I too add my gratitude for a job well done [up to this point], and one that must and will continue. John, in the future you and others like you [may I humbly state the hope I am included in that number] may well be the Mormon Galileo’s, fully redeemed for your honesty and correctness in the face of tremendous opposition. At that time the “Church” may well be asking for your forgiveness!

I am a long time listener. Your podcasts have been excellent and have helped me greatly. I have a gay son, whom I love greatly. Your podcasts have helped me understand this situation. You have done a wonderful work. Many, many thanks!!!

I’m a nevermo and avid long time listener to Mormon Stories. I first found this podcast during research for my anthropology degree on religious subcultures and LGBT populations. I’ve been listening regularly ever since. It has helped to spark a deep an abiding fascination with LDS history and culture. I draw great inspiration from these interviews, and it has helped me in my transition out of being a believing Christian, and learning to live as a compassionate and loving atheist in concert with my believing family. John Dehlin, you are my favourite muggle.

Still active LDS member here. Mormon Stories was like an oasis in the desert for me, a listener for a few years now. I don’t view John as a “teacher” but as a facilitator of conversation. I value the diversity of his podcasts. My favorites, by far, are the ones where people simply told of their experiences, and life journeys. I’ve learned so much and feel like I am a better person, more Christ-like, because of what I have learned.

I appreciated John’s recent interview on Trib Talk and the humility he voiced during that interview. A few years back, I had a friend who was excommunicated. At the time I knew if she was ex’d her teenaged children would follow her. They did and have had nothing to do with the church since. Life is a journey and I wonder what the value is of picking a point in time to confer judgment on someone who is not seeking to hold a position within the church? Didn’t Christ mostly refrain from judging while here?

Thanks John. I wish you and your family well. Don’t let whatever disciplinary action is taken replace your humility, humanity and goodness with pride, bitterness and revenge. Don’t give them that.

John is the new Nauvoo Expositor. And as I have said elsewhere, the modern Church can’t send thugs to destroy the press pi the type and throw printing press out in the street. So instead they must discredit the messenger by defining him as apostate. This is what was done to 19th century Nauvoo dissenters and those women that rejected the sexual advances of Joseph Smith and made those advances public. They demand that John table his works in much the same manner as Copernicus’ publications were banned by the Catholic Church and Galileo convicted of heresy. These modern orthodox Pharisees just can’t abide any rational recitation of inconvenient histories. For them, ideas and discussions must first be “faith promoting” and then must, above all, not be perceived as any threat to misted orthodox notions of history and dogma.

I have been thinking about you lots over the last few weeks. We have never met, but you and your podcast have meant so much to me since I began listening on my new I-Pod in 2012.

Your quest for the truth is what the Mormon Church should be about, and what the Mormon Church claims to be about, but unfortunately isn’t.

The Church isn’t about “truth” anymore, and it isn’t about freedom of thought or freedom of speech or freedom of religion.

It is about conformity, the whole conformity and nothing but conformity, so help you God.

We are living in a strange time, where on the one hand the Church is being more transparent than it has ever been on its own website (spurred in large measure to your efforts, I have no doubt), while on the other hand the Church is cracking down on those who talk publicly about the very same issues.

There seems to be a struggle for power in the Church right now between the forces of control and those of freedom and you appear to be caught squarely in the middle.

Thank you for your courage in speaking your mind, and in providing a place for others to speak theirs.

Thank you for your courage in standing by your convictions and not allowing the Church to censor your voice and the voices of others with whom the Church does not agree.

And thank you for all the wonderful hours of listening enjoyment; expanding my horizons, increasing my knowledge and revitalizing my spirit.

You have left an indelible mark for the good on Mormonism, and something tells me you aren’t done yet.

It just occurred to me…This might be the only ‘open to comments’ blog I know of that has an entire cross section of Internet people actively discussing a single topic without hate. No haters starting comment wars! That’s an Internet anomaly, so good on you for that. i am active lds and crave this type of good faith discussion but it’s nowhere to be found at church these days. I love what you are doing here and hope the open, honest, truth seeking struggle continues. #thestruggleisreal

One of the things I find disturbing about Mormon stories is that it really seems so one sided. The topics that the podcast ask followers to comment on or highlight only allows for criticism and complaints about the church.

There are some things in the church “culture” that I disagree with, just like everybody else. I have a big disliking, as an example, for the self righteous/holier than thou men and women who are sprinkled around the general membership. But I have to say, I’ve been in the church for 50 years and I don’t ever remember one time being taught that males are better than females (in fact, it seems quite the opposite), never once have I been taught that I should hate and discriminate against gays, and I’ve always been taught to never use unrighteous dominion over my wife and kids.

I am certain that for each one of the horror stories being posted on this site, there are hundreds of stories about church members living respectful and honorable lives! For every crapping Bishop or Stake President that is talked about, there are hundreds of more stories of leaders getting it right!

Maybe instead of continually focusing on the bad, it might be helpful and even inspiring to here about the good! I am convinced that the bad stuff is the exception and not the rule!

My first introduction to your work began in 2011 when I happened to stumble upon “Whey People Leave the LDS church” on youTube. It’s been a wild ride since. I have loved hearing the stories of those you interviewed. It made me appreciate what they went through and I could relate to a lot of it as an inactive Mormon. I also came to realize that besides my own challenges I learned that others faced faith challenges too but in other areas like being gay and Mormon. It was sad news to hear that some of our gay Mormons have committed suicide because of the LDS culture relating to this reality. I am an LGBT ally myself and think very much like you do in relation to our gay brothers and sisters in the faith.

Whether you get excommunicated or not I will always appreciate the work you have done and will continue to do. I know God sees the good you do in helping those with faith challenges to feel less isolated emotionally and socially.

I once thought “why dwell on all this negativity ? why not aid in starting another church where we don’t have to dwell with all this negativity ?” but since then I realize that your testimony relating to the Book of Mormon doesn’t exist and creating another church wouldn’t work for you. I see the creation of a new church as a possiblity but now I believe the Church I believe could exist could someday exist in the LDS Church changing into the kind of church we all someday want – one that allows for gay couples to come to church and be authentic, one that allows women to hold the priesthood. It will happen. It may not happen as fast as we would like but it will.

John, you are a visionary. You are like a white Mormon version of Martin Luther King Jr. Stand tall and stand proud Brother.

John,
You save lives, you provide a place to heal. This is a safe place without judgment. I thought I was alone. I was isolated, betrayed, shooked and frankly sucidal. This has been my therapist. I have answers now and I have support. John God bless you. God bless the exmormons members and all who have spoken out. P.S. Mr. King in Logan. I feel sorry and sympathetic towards you. Most here know your thoughts fears and pressures. John my friend, I don’t worry about you in the least. The universe smiles down on you. God bless my brother. I look forward to more wonderful podcasts. John you rock !! My goodness you are equal to the 15million member’s. You’ve done more for me than all my church experience combined rolled up into one. thst was the first time I listened 3 months ago. lol

Brother John,
Did you notice and/or take my comments submitted under the disciplinary council post seriously?
Perhaps that was the wrong place to make such a comment?
Would it be better to post it here?
There’s a lot going on behind the scenes (in the spirit realm) and the Church has a long way to go to represent God’s Honest Truth accurately, and your work is integral to that evolution.
Despite what kind of misguided actions the Church might take, the Lord has your back, Brother John.
The Game of Life is a long race and in the end, just like the tortoise, you and Kate will be vindicated.

While my own Mormon Story effectively drew to a close at the age of seven, before I was even baptized, when my dad declared us officially inactive, I can still relate to the whole Mormon paradigm. I believe that what you’re doing is pulling back the dusty, crusty curtains and letting the light in. What the light falls on is not your fault, and in most cases, no one else’s either—it was there before most of us were born. Stay or leave, the light facilitates safe navigation. I believe “The Letting In Of The Light” IS your calling and a very, very important one. Be well.

John,
This tribute podcast reminded me of Tom and Huck who eavesdropped on their own funeral. You are in a rare position to be able to learn the impact you have had on the world at large, but more particularly on the hearts of your fellow man.

Please know that the words shared in this podcast are echoed around the world by many, many other people. I am one. I cannot imagine the depth of emotion you and your family must be going through and my heart goes out to you for it.

My heart is troubled that you and your family are having to endure such a backlash from the Church and others. As the mother of two gay sons, I sincerely thank you for your support, your research, and your courage. You’ve helped me and my sons more than I can say. Thank you, John.

John…………..you’ve provided validation and support for myself and numerous others. All the issues you bring up were exactly what I was having difficulty with….the historicity problems are fact, and the issues of the day such as female ordination,gay marriage, etc, are all worth bringing to the forefront.
No matter what happens with the church and yourself, I am certain you are in a good place spiritually…..( wasn’t honesty one of the commandments ! )
Thank you for the forum/support that you’ve provided for us all

Dialogue and Sundstone are platforms for Mormon questioning which are similar to Mormon Stories. I learned about View of the Hebrews and the B. H. Roberts Studies in Dialogue. If the Church chooses to excommunicate John Dehlin, then they should do the same with the editors of dialogue and Sunstone. Thirty six states now recognize same sex marriage. Mormon Stories is at the tipping point where the Church has to catch up with society. Excommunicating John Dehlin can not stop the current trends in Mormonism.

I’m just writing about this joke of excommunication. Who do these people think they are to tell anyone they can or cannot be a member of the church you the LDS people claim to be so righteous. When I read this story all I could do is laugh. It you believe in something like not having the full faith of this cult then get out and go to another church who will except you for who you are. My religion except anyone poor, rich, yellow, green, black, white etc… Baptized not baptized we do not judge. We are Christians that believe in the Bible, Doc and Covents, and yes the Book of Mormon. But we do not excommunicated anyone for doubting their faith and voicing it. So kudos for you Mr Dehlin. I pray that our Lord and savior will guide you in you time of need.